What could have been a meaningful Guineas trial threatened to turn to farce as only three runners lined up for this rescheduled contest and with Godolphin's Log Out Island proving a non-stayer it was left to Tasleet and Knife Edge to at least provide an exciting spectacle as they went tooth and nail up the straight. Shadwell's admirably consistent Tasleet had got off the mark over six furlongs at Chepstow in June and stayed at that trip for his next three starts in the space of just over a month, which saw him win Newbury's Listed Rose Bowl S. and York's DBS Premier Yearling S. either side of a second to Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G2 Richmond S. at Glorious Goodwood. Beaten a nose by Sanus Per Aquam (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) when taking an errant route to the line in the G3 Somerville Tattersall S. trying this trip at Newmarket when last seen in September, the bay looked to face an easy task on paper here but made takers of the 4-7 on offer sweat as he failed to put the expected margin into his sole threat Knife Edge. Quickly to the head of affairs where he was harried by the free-running Log Out Island, he left that rival behind early in the home straight only to be engaged by the Magnier color-bearer. Typically game under pressure and digging deep for Paul Hanagan, Tasleet eventually prevailed as the duo left the only other runner well behind. “He's still a very genuine and kind horse. Paul said he was uncomfortable, as he was leaning to the right the whole way round,” trainer William Haggas commented. “I think we will see what Sheikh Hamdan has in the Guineas. I'm not sure he will be better at a mile myself and there's a strong possibility we will aim him at the [G3] Jersey [at Royal Ascot June 15] or the [G1] Commonwealth Cup [at Royal Ascot June 17]. I think a stiff six furlongs where they go flat out will be fine.” Knife Edge's trainer Marco Botti has a different Guineas on his mind. “He's run well and I'm delighted with him. Ryan Moore liked him and said he probably wants an extra furlong,” he explained. “He's an inexperienced horse and I'm sure he will improve again. He's a horse that will get better with time as he has plenty of scope. Originally I said about going for the German 2000 Guineas [G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen at Cologne May 16] and I still think that will probably be his next target.”
Saturday, Chelmsford, Britain
BETFRED WORLD SNOOKER STARTS TODAY GREENHAM S.-G3, £45,000, CHD, 4-16, 3yo, c/g, 7f (AWT), 1:25.38, ft.
1–@TASLEET (GB), 126, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Bird Key (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(£52,000 Ylg '14 DNPRM). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Paul Hanagan. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, $379,584. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Knife Edge (Ire), 126, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Attalea (Ire), by Monsun (Ger). (18,000gns RNA Wlg '13 TATFOA; €43,000 Ylg '14 BBAGS). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Attalea Partnership (IRE); T-Marco Botti. £9,675.
3–Log Out Island (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (£95,000 Ylg '14 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £4,842.
Margins: HD, 12. Odds: 0.55, 3.00, 4.50. Scratched: Palawan (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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